Let me first start by saying I enjoyed watching the Vikings start off the season on a good note against the Browns.  They were not spectacular but did a great job in many areas to get the win.  I have been a Vikings fans for many years and still remain optimistic about the Childress regime.  As any Viking fan I question decisions and wonder if Mr. Childress is the right coach to lead the Vikings to the Super Bowl.  But as of now I am still satisfied with the job that he is doing.  

However, one thing I continue to see that I am having trouble understanding is the play calling on Third and 1, or any short yardage play.   I believe they were stopped three times against the Browns, once on the goal line.  The play calling for the most part is bad and very predictable.  It is the same play over and over again.  They usually have Peterson or Taylor lined up 10 yards behind center without a lead blocker.  By the time Peterson or Taylor get close to the line of scrimmage at least one defender is in the backfield to make the stop or at least have a good chance to make the stop. 

I love Adrian Perterson, as we all do.  But he is not a great short yardage runner.  I think it is his instinct to try to break a play outside or to hesitate and look for an opening.  Although he is tremendous at doing so we need a back on short yardage to put his head down and pick up the yard.  Remember the Packers game last year when he got stopped on third and 1 and was screaming at Childress to go for it on fourth and 1?  Childress gave in and Peterson not only didn’t make the first down but fumbled as well.   

My favorite play of the game against Cleveland was not the Peterson run or the Harvin touchdown.  It was a play that I believed happended in the second quarter on a third and 1.  What I have been screaming at my television to happen since Brad Childress took over as head coach finally happened.  The play was a quick handoff to the fullback Jeff Dugan.  Dugan was not ten yards behind the line of scrimmage but maybe three.  Jeff dugan had two hands on the ball and ran straight ahead to pick up the first down.  Not only did he pick up the first down but four more yards as well.  When they run this play on short yardage it doesn’t give the defenders time to get in the backfield.  Thats what I been waiting for on a short yardage play.  And best of all, the drive continued.  Unfortunatley the Vikings did not go back to this play later in the game.  We will see what Childress decides to do this week against Detroit on third and 1.     

Paul Gantner